Caribbean countries start looking at marijuana legalization

The small economies of the Caribbean are beginning to examine the legalization, or at least the decriminalization, of the consumption and possession of marijuana, with Puerto Rico leading the pack now that next week the Senate will begin studying the issue. A heated debate has arisen in Puerto Rico in recent weeks about the possible decriminalization of possessing small quantities of cannabis, as well as over legalizing its sale and consumption for medical purposes.

Local radio and television talk shows are constantly dealing with the matter and more and more local figures from different spheres are openly admitting that they have used pot and are calling for making the law more flexible.

“Let’s leave hypocrisy behind,” said Miguel Pereira, the senator from Puerto Rico’s governing party who presented the proposal to decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce (28 grams) of pot, which is believed may be more heavily consumed on the island than tobacco.

Also, voices have emerged from the university and business spheres supporting the initiative, many of them arguing that criminal penalties for pot consumption have destroyed the academic and professional careers of thousands of young people.

Next Tuesday, the first public hearings will be held in the Puerto Rican Senate to allow interested parties to comment on the matter and lawmakers will begin studying the proposal to amend the prevailing law, which establishes fines of up to $5,000 and three years in prison for those who “knowingly or intentionally possess any controlled substance.”

Besides Puerto Rico, many other Caribbean islands are studying whether to alter legislation relating to pot, both to reduce police, court and prison costs and to increase the revenue that could be obtained by taxing legal pot sales.

St. Lucia, for instance, has been working on the matter for some time, just like Jamaica, which is one of the main marijuana providers in the region and where tourists can even take guided tours of illegal pot plantations.

The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, proposed to his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, that – in his capacity as president of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom – he push for a debate on legalizing the sale and consumption of pot for medicinal purposes.

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